hi all, ugh cold has reached epic proportions, lost my voice, completely bunged up, nose agony from blowing one million times, sinusy headache, hurts so much to cough and SO MUCH WORK to do. Just want to stay in bed but alas, Excel is instead my lot

On the plus side, after a mega clingy day yesterday, minim is on the mend. I am a couple of days behind her on this cold so judging by her, I should be feeling better by Tuesday ...

Thanks for the coffee aethel, think I need hot lemon and honey instead, oooh might go and make some before getting back to the HELL that is Excel. Oooh that rhymes. Ugh brain going already ...

Hope you are all having a lovely weekend so far ...

Oh and figgy in the past couple of days, minim has been rivalling figgyboy in the poosplosions. This morning all up her back to her neck, ALL OVER HER, yesterday the same. Had to put her in bath. I even threw away one vest as I couldn't face dealing with it!

I did 8 hours straight of Excel and managed to do what I had planned to today. I am tired but pleased. I am now going to relax a while then have an early night. And will dose myself up on Lemsip. I kept my husband awake last night by being so snuffly and also he said I was moaning in my sleep ???? I was jolly uncomfortable and feeling rotten last night so I guess that's why. Fingers crossed tonight goes better.

I would dread to think what you'd be doing that required so much spread-sheeting mopsy, but I guess with research it's par for the course. Grim though! Really hope you're on the mend soon.

And wow for Eva, that's brilliant seven. It just goes to show how 'personal' the development of babies is, if she's walking but has no teeth.

A belated thank-you for the coffee aethel, much appreciated. DS slept til gone six! but had warbled earlier at about 4.45 am which woke me, and I didn't get back to sleep. I've told DP I'm having the lie in tomorrow, and a 'natural term' one as well, as in hang the bf, I'm sleeping until I wake up.

Been great here today- we've finally got the car sorted (bloody garage had not fitted the thermostat properly, but got it right this time) and went off and started the Xmas shopping. I also got myself a coat- put all my birthday money toward it, and my Mum's giving me money for Xmas for it too, and it had a 20% discount, so really pleased.DS has been a total delight- DP we forgot to take any of his dining stuff with us, so had to buy a beaker and some toddler cutlery whilst we were out . But we just loaded up the spoon/fork and he fed himself without having handled cutlery before, so we'll build on that and get him using it properly.

So, got a nice pasta dinner and a bit of red wine to look forward to, and will catch up on a bit of TV before the footie.

Heavens, just checked out 'most active' and it was the Oct '12 crew... Really brings it back, all these other people having our conversations but now we're a year on.Really brought back the intensity of it all.

Marking place to say I think it is our Air that started this thread about the bonfire and I really hope she and the kids are ok...so worried about them, a giant bonfire was lit tonight 20 feet from their back door by some drunk lunatics. I hope she's dialling 999 as I type.

Northern he fed himself!? That's amazing! DS can just about bang a spoon on the edge of a bowl. Aiming the loaded end of a spoon at his mouth just seems like a pipe dream!

aethel I love the mug from the end of the last thread. I'm totally having that made!

Been following the bonfire thing since yesterday morning, so worried for Air Desperately hope they're all safe

Forgot who mentioned teeth, none here thus far, but it's not impeding his toast demolition technique. He had a meal today that wasn't 'beige' (toast, porridge etc.) for the first time in about a fortnight. The bug he had really rocked his digestive system, and his confidence. He seemed to enjoy the chicken and veg though - even if he does eat so slowly now compared to before

<pompoms> for Eva seven, that's so lovely for you. DS is now moving about a little bit, but not through any discernable action. Not a proper bum shuffle or a crawl, just a weird rocking between sitting and being on his hands and knees. He gets stuck and cries if he ends up on his tummy!

Does sound a bit grim, but at least the fire died down last night from what air said on the last page. Just because it's celebration time seems to make people forget they're handling explosives and carrying on in a manner that would at any other time get you arrest for arson and public order offences!

I know, I was amazed Xiao, and to think if we'd been competent parents we'd have never have found out . DP was convinced he was going to sprong his eyeball on the fork, but nope, just went off using both like he had been for ages.We'll have to take the next step and see if he can load it up himself.<stockpiles cloths and wipes for inevitable carnage>

Know what you mean about the food though SMS, DS lived off yoghurt and a bit of toast for about a week and half after we were all so ill, but mainly just survived on milk. Glad Octoboy is feeling a bit better too, but Bob knows how you're coping with the wake ups...

Morning! Looked on the other thread and it seems air is OK though understandably rattled. air I take it you own your place so you can't just give notice and move to another rental? Maybe if you own it's worth asking the council housing officers and Citezens advice beareau if they have any hardship grants available for fence replacement? Round our way they have a special improvement fund (left as a bequest by a rich old lady) and they fund education grants and basic furnishing/health related things for people who are low on cash. It's worth asking as it's the sort of thing there may be a funding pot for even if it's a simple thing like a double metal spike fence (which would let the wind through so wouldn't fall over, but would deflect a lot of the heat) if you point out that it's affeting the young children, council housing officers can sometimes be be sympathetic even if you're not a council renter.

poor air, what a nightmare. Can't believe that's allowed. Glad all okay in the end.

I am in bed feeling sorry for myself, cold got worse, chest is so so painful when I cough and have horrible sinus pains in my head and all my upper teeth. Been throbbing all night keeping me awake. I must have a little chest infection I suppose. Nothing to do except stay in bed and drink loads of water I think, but I have to get up and go to work tomorrow and bring minim to the hospital to see the consultant about her kidney scan, so hoping a day in bed today will get me on the path to wellness. So far minimopsy's cold has not developed into a chest infection so fingers crossed she doesn't get worse again. She was up at 5 this morning and wouldn't stop bawling unless I was holding her. I was awake anyway as feeling rough so just sat in the dark cuddling her for an hour and a half. If I tried to put her down she woke up and bawled but slept happily if I held her. My husband has taken her out in the baby carrier (a rucksack thing you wear on your back, she loves being up high and able to see everything) and I am in bed. Think will have another nap now.

Ah Mopsy, that sucks have you tried any decongestants? I had some good ones for sinus pain just before I got pregnant. I can't remember what they were called but they were capsules filled with tiny pink balls. You can buy them over the counter - I just asked for the strongest without prescription and they gave me them. They were fab!

DP and I had a 'miscommunication'... Obviously me saying I not only wanted, but needed a lie-in, and it was going to be a natural term one (which I explained was I'd wake when I bloody well woke) somehow reached his ears as "lie in bed until the child's wailing gets really loud and your DP is properly awake, and then bring DS up 20 minutes later to feed so she can't possibly settle. Oh, and leave the monitor on so she can hear everything."

Sigh.

Dishwasher arrived at 7, and then all three of us went back to bed at half 9. I then stayed there til half one.... Which I needed but somewhat threw a spanner in the works !

But delighted to have it, and also managed to tidy up the front of the house, even though I didn't get the gardening done that I wanted.

And keep on meaning to say, the wheely bug on the front page of MN is precisely what DS is getting from my Mum for Xmas! It's so funny, a shop in our tiny little market town up North has had them for years, and I always promised myself that if I had kids they would get one. It's come true, but looks like I'm accidentally in fashion this year .

Mopsy, really hope you improve, any thoughts of going for anti-biotics?

Mopsy, gO and get yourself checked; if it is a nasty rattly down in the chest infection, antibiotics will help. If it's all clear down below and is just upper airway noises then at least you'll know your chest is clear. Do you have a swinging fever with it? Do try to make time to get seen, it's so easy/tempting to look after ourselves last as mums. Hope all is OK tomorrow with miniMopsy.

Have finally started my next knitting project: am knitting a pair of long trousers for DS: have some lovely rainbow coloured wool for the trim and mix of greens for the body of it, though actually starting to knit it, the wool feels thinner than It claims to be. Hppe it will be warm enough for the grotty weather, otherwise they will end up as glorified tights!!

It's all rather far forward for most of you girls but I cleared out the DDs schoolbags and was annoyed to find extra homework sheets lurking in there. Enjoy the homework-free time while you can! dD1 is seven and had a weather chart, a christmas card todfesign, a maths sheet, a holiday journal entry, and a set of spellings. dD2 (who is 5 and a bit) had spellings, holiday journal, christmas card design and a maths sheet. Plus daily reading... And that's during a one week holiday in a lowish ofsted ranking state school, not a pushy private one!!

<wheels out the decaf for you nightshifters: Will be joining you tonight I think, DS is working on tooths number six and seven and has already woken twice...>